Research ethics debate
Argue what responsibilities a researcher has when their independent project could affect real people or public safety.
One sentence on the consequence of a broken chain of custody, plus a written ethical standard statement for your own independent project.
- 1Do thisArgue what responsibilities a researcher has when their independent project could affect real people or public safety.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisExit ticket: One sentence on the consequence of a broken chain of custody, plus a written ethical standard statement for your own independent project.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Biotechnology for Health (Biomedical Innovations) › Forensic chain-of-custody basics, independent project claim, final portfolio audit; no new curriculum after Dec 11. › Exit ticketOpen Schoology
Read to prepare for today
Vetted sources picked for today's question. Skim these before you take a position or start the work, so your argument and evidence are grounded.
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Independent research carries ethical obligations that mirror professional scientific standards.
- 0-5 minWarm-up: name one research scandal caused by an ethical lapse
- 5-20 minRead briefing; choose a position on researcher duty and list two grounded reasons
- 20-40 minSmall-group debate tracking consent, integrity, and harm-prevention claims
- 40-55 minFull-class debrief: what is the one obligation no researcher can skip?
- 55-70 minReflection: write the ethical standard you will apply to your own project
- 70-80 minExit ticket: one sentence on the consequence of a broken chain of custody
- • Your independent capstone project is not just a school assignment: it could touch real people and real data.
- • Today you argue how seriously a researcher should take that responsibility.
- • Strong arguments cite specific obligations: consent, honesty, chain of custody, and harm prevention.
- • The standard you articulate today is the one you'll be held to when your project is reviewed.
- 1Read the briefing on an independent project with real-world implications.
- 2Choose a position on how strict the researcher's duties should be.
- 3List two reasons grounded in consent, honesty, and harm prevention.
- 4Debate in your group, tracking claims about chain of custody and integrity.
- 5Reflect on the ethical standard you will hold your own project to.
- • You defended a position on research ethics.
- • You connected it to integrity and harm prevention.
- • Informed consent is required when research involves human subjects or could affect identifiable people.
- • Chain of custody documentation ensures evidence integrity in forensic and independent research.
- • Harm prevention is a core obligation: a researcher must anticipate and mitigate foreseeable risks.
Your PLTW work today
Forensic chain-of-custody basics, independent project claim, final portfolio audit; no new curriculum after Dec 11. · Research ethics debate
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Problem 8 Independent Project in your myPLTW course shell and navigate to the research ethics discussion activity.
Check off the research ethics discussion milestone in your activity tracker after submitting your ethical standard statement.
You are opening Problem 8 on schedule; by end of today your research ethics reflection should be submitted and your draft project question ready for Wednesday.
Ethical standard reflection attached as evidence of the discussion milestone.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Forensic chain-of-custody basics, independent project claim, final portfolio audit; no new curriculum after Dec 11. · Research ethics debate
Open Problem 8 Independent Project in your myPLTW course shell and navigate to the research ethics discussion activity.
You are opening Problem 8 on schedule; by end of today your research ethics reflection should be submitted and your draft project question ready for Wednesday.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Argue what responsibilities a researcher has when their independent project could affect real people or public safety.
- Read the briefing on an independent project with real-world implications.
- Choose a position on how strict the researcher's duties should be.
- List two reasons grounded in consent, honesty, and harm prevention.
- Debate in your group, tracking claims about chain of custody and integrity.
- Reflect on the ethical standard you will hold your own project to.
Exit ticket: One sentence on the consequence of a broken chain of custody, plus a written ethical standard statement for your own independent project.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the briefing on an independent project with real-world implications. | _______ |
| Choose a position on how strict the researcher's duties should be. | _______ |
| List two reasons grounded in consent, honesty, and harm prevention. | _______ |
| Debate in your group, tracking claims about chain of custody and integrity. | _______ |
| Reflect on the ethical standard you will hold your own project to. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You defended a position on research ethics.
- You connected it to integrity and harm prevention.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Forensic autopsy project by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-7_Forensic-Autopsy/7.1_Forensic-Autopsy; keywords:forensic, autopsy, fetal pig, organ. Score 158. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Forensic autopsy project by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-7_Forensic-Autopsy/7.1_Forensic-Autopsy; keywords:forensic, autopsy, fetal pig, organ. Score 158. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this as the classroom resource for Forensic autopsy project.
Placement rationale
Matched Forensic autopsy project by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-7_Forensic-Autopsy/7.1_Forensic-Autopsy; keywords:forensic, autopsy, fetal pig, organ. Score 158. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Post a 150-word stance on a researcher's duty when a project could affect public safety, then reply to a classmate with a different view.
Then submit your Exit ticket on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
NIST Forensic ScienceOptional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Tue, Apr 27, 2027 · Research ethics debate here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project